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Letter: What was The Record thinking publishing Swindle's tripe?

Editor: I’ve come to accept that The Record has chosen to back Gov. Mitt Romney in the upcoming presidential election.

However, last Sunday’s “Perspective” column by Orson Swindle III was over the top. Mr. Swindle, like all Americans, is entitled to his opinion, however extreme and unfounded. By publishing the author’s comments like “my tolerance for his (Obama’s) supporters has ceased to exist” only amplifies the hatred and divisiveness that has overtaken our nation in recent years, poisoning relationships between neighbors, families and co-workers.

How can you publish a remark like (when referring to his granddaughters) “ I consider a vote for Obama an extremely abusive act toward those little girls, one that I will not take lightly.” The implication of violence and hostility are obvious and have no place on the Opinion page in a local newspaper. Perhaps Mr. Swindle should listen to the Republican Party’s attitude toward women and “Legitimate Rape” before fearing for his granddaughters lives under an Obama presidency. However, my problem is much less with Mr. Swindle’s extreme opinions, than The Record’s choice to publish them.

I plan to vote for Obama in November. I am a Vietnam veteran, I pay taxes, I run a business and I have a wife and a daughter. I am not a victim and I am not afraid. I am a proud American and I feel sorry for those people who believe that hatred, anger and fear are what America needs instead of patriotism. The Record can certainly find conservative opinions of more value than those published last Sunday.